Students and Faculty Attend National Student Diversity Leadership and People of Color Conferences
A group of six students and four faculty members represented Moorestown Friends School at the concurrent annual National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC), held November 29 – December 2 in St. Louis, MO.
The NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders from eligible independent high schools across the U.S. and abroad. SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles. In addition to large group sessions, SDLC “family groups” and “home groups” allow for dialogue and sharing in smaller units.
Students who attended SDLC were: Emmie Huynh ’27, Sophia Lalani ’25, Jade McRae ’26, Maya Wohler ’26, Ali Sabir ’26, and Miles Wilkins ’25.
Emmie Huynh reflected, “SDLC was a life-changing experience that allowed me to reshape my own perspectives and views on diversity-related topics through networking with students from around the world. From mixed family groups and affinity groups, SDLC gave me an immediate sense of belonging and fostered community within the 2,000+ student attendees, and further instilled a passion for me to improve our own DEIB initiatives here at MFS. Experiences like SDLC are unique and unforgettable, and the impacts the conference left on me will definitely continue to influence my future at MFS and beyond.”
The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools’ commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. With seminars, master classes, and more than 100 workshops on a range of topics that explore the diverse experiences of people of color in independent schools, PoCC equips educators at every level—from teachers to trustees—with new knowledge and skills. Participants leave the conference better equipped to improve the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in your school, which will have a positive impact on the academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.
The experience for me was fortifying, empowering, and so much more,” said Lower School Assistant Mitali Pande. “Connecting, reconnecting, feeling seen, being heard, having a safe space to speak, making network connections, teamwork, was something I really took away from this conference.” She also served as a chaperone for the six MFS student delegates to SDLC. “Our students were extremely poised, thoughtful, and ready to learn. They will bring back to MFS many new ideas from the SDLC conference. They represented MFS very well!”
MFS faculty and staff who attended the conference in addition to Mitali were Third Grade Teacher Kenya Barber, Lower School Director Jenel Giles, and Director of Diversity, Community, and Belonging Chanelle Walker ’01.